Saturday

October 11

HEREIN doth consist happiness of life, for a man to know thoroughly the true nature of everything; What is the matter, and what is the form of it: with all his heart and soul, ever to do that which is just, and to speak the truth. What then remaineth but to enjoy thy life in a course and coherence of good actions, one upon another immediately succeeding, and never interrupted, though for never so little a while?.

MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book xii. 22.

HE that is endowed with true magnanimity, who hath accustomed himself to the contemplation both of all times, and of all things in general; can this mortal life (thinkest thou) seem any great matter unto him? It is not possible; answered he. Then neither will such a one account death a grievous thing? By no means.

2 comments:

Tall order to know the true nature of everything... yet in knowing we can then feel balance and true happiness. Once we have figured out that virtues are where true happiness lies, what is left but to live life and flourish with happiness?

The secret to happiness is not a secret at all. It was carved on the Temple of Delphi for the world to see. Know yourself. Know where you are, where you have come from, where you are going. Do what is right; be just, truthful, compassionate, in a word, virtuous. What is left for you then but to flourish, completing one good action after another. Then, as you grow to know your own capacity for virtue, your own stregnths, you will begin to truly know yourself, and therein are the seeds of lasting joy. - Inspired by Marcus Aurelius

Using this Blog

I found Words of the Ancient Wise in late 2008, and my wife and I had been reading the passages fairly consistently since. 2017 is the ninth year of our run through these texts. Re-reading the old comment reveals some interesting truths about our lives.

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Note

This book was compiled by W. H. D. House (M.A. Litt. D) and originally published in 1906. The frontispiece holds the following:

These extracts are taken from the translations of Marcus Aurelius by Meric Casaubon (1634 and 1635), and of Epictetus by Elizabeth Carter (1758). A few corrections, alterations, and omissions have been made.